System and method for tracking performance and service level agreement compliance for multipoint packet services

ABSTRACT

A system and method for measuring compliance with a service level agreement for communications. A threshold is set for a core information rate and a user network interface core information rate operable to avoid contention. Frame loss is measured on a core network and legs of the network. A determination is made that the service loss agreement is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a user network interface core information rate has not been exceeded or the core committed information rate has not been exceeded.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. Nos. 61/047,028, 61/039,886, 61/035,973, 61/043,551 filed on Apr. 22, 2008, Mar. 27, 2008, Mar. 12, 2008, Apr. 9, 2008, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The use of and development of communications has grown nearly exponentially in recent years. The growth is fueled by larger networks with more reliable protocols and better communications hardware available to service providers and consumers. In particular, an Ethernet local area network (E-LAN) service type may be used to create a broad range of services. E-LAN service types may be utilized based on one or more service level agreements (SLA) for a multipoint service.

The SLAs may specify guaranteed or acceptable thresholds for bandwidth, throughput, frame loss ratio, and other performance metrics, characteristics, or factors. In many cases, the applicable communications network may include any number of service providers, access providers, legs, customers, and other elements that may complicate tracking performance or compliance for users or customers. The performance metrics are useful for trouble shooting, fault isolation, performance management (PM) threshold crossing, error identification, and other measurements that may not be shared between the many separate parties.

SUMMARY

One embodiment provides a system and method for measuring compliance with a service level agreement for communications. A threshold may set for a core information rate and a user network interface core information rate operable to avoid contention. Frame loss may be measured on a core network and legs of the network. A determination may be that the service loss agreement is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a user network interface core information rate has not been exceeded or the core committed information rate has not been exceeded.

Another embodiment provides a system for measuring compliance with a service level agreement. The system may include a user network interface operable to communicate with a number of user network interfaces. The system may also include a network operable to communicate packets between the user network interface and the number of user network interfaces. The system may also include a communications device in communication with the UNI operable to measure frame loss on a core of the network and legs of the network. The communications device may be further operable to determine that the service level agreement is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a user network interface committed information rate has not been exceeded or a core committed information rate has not been exceeded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a communications system implemented in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of an E-LAN service type utilizing multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet virtual connections (EVCs) in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a state diagram of SLA states in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of SLA states in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of nodes in a network in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a flowchart of a process for determining whether losses within a network comply with a SLA in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a network ring in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation of a flowchart of a process for determining whether losses within a network comply with a SLA for core throughput in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of a network performance system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments provide a system and method for determining whether a communications service provider is conforming to the terms of a service level agreement (SLA). Certain illustrative embodiments may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, bandwidth measurements and other performance metrics may be monitored by logic engines, devices, or other elements to suppress alarms during specific conditions when the alarms are not intended to be activated. Certain illustrative embodiments may be utilized to determine whether a multipoint SLA is being met without performing stress testing that may adversely affect the system or service. Certain illustrative embodiments may also determine whether frame loss or frame loss ratio (FLR) is acceptable or unacceptable according to the terms of a SLA.

Information regarding performance, state, and SLA compliance may be utilized by one or more embodiments of the present invention to determine that rate limiters or bit shapers have not sufficiently limited data traffic in a system to account for potential situations or inherent limitations. As a result, line rates have exceeded the sustainable throughput levels of the applicable ports or devices. Certain illustrative embodiments may utilize a static bandwidth profile or a dynamic bandwidth profile that accounts for different frame sizes to determine the thresholds and parameters that may be utilized to determine whether the SLA is compliant.

Two “normal” congestion states may occur in a multipoint service. The first congestion state is congestion experienced through the UNI (User Network Interface) egress point (hereafter “egress congestion” or “UNI congestion”) and the second is the congestion experienced with the core network service allocated bandwidth. UNI egress congestion may occur within multipoint services because the ingress of each port is “over-subscribed” based on the fact that multiple end-points (other UNI's) may coincidentally transmit traffic to a single destination UNI at one given time. In other words, multiple UNIs may communicate with a single UNI simultaneously. This creates an increased likelihood of congestion for multipoint services. As a result of such congestion at such a UNI egress point, point-to-point performance data may incorrectly show congestion between two points despite the fact that there is no congestion on the remainder of network services. To correctly characterize the multipoint service for purposes of reporting service level performance to customers, the performance information regarding congestion at any UNI egress point during the congestion period should be removed for more accurate SLA tracking.

The second congestion state is congestion experienced through a segment of a network used by more than one customer, such as a segment of a core network (hereafter “core congestion”). This may occur with special services and is useful when the SLA contains a “backbone” or global bandwidth limitation. In this case, the ability to transmit from all UNI ports at one time is restricted to a global amount of bits per second. This limitation may introduce a known and expected congestion state for the service. To effectively track the multipoint service using point-to-point frame loss or other performance criteria, the “congestion state” of the backbone network may need to be independently tracked. Similarly, the performance metrics for the backbone network may need to be removed from the SLA metrics to effectively characterize the network service being offered according to a particular SLA.

In one embodiment, a method may be embodied in a set of instructions stored within a memory and executed to determine compliance or non-compliance with a particular SLA. Certain illustrative embodiments may be utilized for unicast or multicast traffic. Certain illustrative embodiments may be utilized to track the state of performance and devices within communications networks and systems. In one embodiment, certain illustrative embodiments may be used to resolve SLA issues between service providers, operators, customers, and other users. In particular, certain illustrative embodiments may be utilized to display, track, and store information, data, and empirical evidence of SLA compliance and noncompliance across any number of parties, devices, or elements.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a communications system implemented in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The communication system 100 of FIG. 1 includes various elements that may be used for wireless and wired communication. The communications system 100 may include a communications network 102, a communications management system 104, a server 106, UNIs 108, 110, and 111, customer premise equipment (CPEs) 112, 114, and 115, and intermediary devices 116 and 118. The communications system 100 may include any number of these elements, devices, components, systems, and equipment in addition to other computing and communications devices not specifically described herein for purposes of simplicity. For example, the communications system 100 may include various rate limiters or bit shapers. The different elements and components of the communications system 100 may communicate using wireless communications, such as satellite connections, WiFi, WiMAX, CDMA wireless networks, and/or hardwired connections, such as fiber optics, T1, cable, DSL, high speed trunks, and telephone lines.

Communications within the communications system 100 may occur on any number of networks which may include wireless networks, data or packet networks, cable networks, satellite networks, private networks, publicly switched telephone networks (PSTN), communications network 102, or other types of communication networks. The communications network 102 is an infrastructures for sending and receiving messages and signals according to one or more designated formats, standards, and protocols. The networks of the communications system 100 may represent a single communication service provider or multiple communications services providers. The features, services, and processes of the illustrative embodiments may be implemented by one or more elements of the communications system 100 independently or as a networked implementation.

In one embodiment, the communications network 102 is a Metro Ethernet network (MEN). Metro Ethernet network is a computer network based on the Ethernet standard and covering a metropolitan area. A Metro Ethernet network may be used as a metropolitan access network to connect subscribers and businesses to a wider area network, such as the Internet. Certain illustrative embodiments may be implemented utilizing any number of packet based networks or services, such as E-LAN or VLAN.

In one embodiment, an E-LAN service type may provide a best effort service with no performance assurances between the UNIs 108, 110 and 111. The UNIs are the physical and electrical demarcation point between the user and the public network service provider. In one embodiment, the UNIs 108, 110 and 111 connect a MEN from the CPEs 112, 114 and 115.

In another embodiment, the communications service or E-LAN service type may include performance assurances, characteristics, thresholds, parameters, and information between UNIs 108, 110 and 111, such as a committed information rate (CIR). CIR is a specified amount of guaranteed bandwidth. Other performance information may include a committed burst size (CBS), an excess information rate (EIR) with an associated excess burst size (EBS), delay, delay variation, loss, and availability for a given class of service (CoS) instance. For example, EIR may be a throughput performance management that tracks all transmitted and received frame octets.

In another example, CIR may be a service performance management of conforming traffic that represents the frame loss threshold used to determine if the service is conforming to the SLA. In one embodiment, the performance guarantees are included in an SLA. The SLA specifies the communications guarantees, thresholds, and actions that are agreed to by the communications service provider and a user/customer. Each of the UNIs 108, 110 and 111 may have a specified bandwidth CIR.

Configurations such as multipoint communications may introduce natural conditions, such as oversubscription. Bandwidth congestion states may result under and SLA when multiple UNIs communicate with a single UNI simultaneously. Frame loss may be fully acceptable when a UNI is at the specified CIR, indicating the user or customer is breaking the boundary or threshold of allowable service.

In one embodiment, the CPEs 112, 114 and 115 may be routers. In another embodiment, the UNIs 108, 110 and 111 may be switches or other intelligent network devices. The UNIs 108, 110 and 111, the CPEs 112, 114, and 115, the server 106 and other computing and communications devices within the communications network system 100, which may include busses, motherboards, circuits, ports, interfaces, cards, connections, leads, transceivers, displays, antennas, and other similar components. The UNIs 108, 110 and 111, the CPEs 112, 114 and 115, and the server 106 may further include a processor and memory as well as other communications and computing elements including, but not limited to busses, circuits, cards, boards, ports, caches, buffers, power supplies, drives, and other components. In one embodiment, certain illustrative embodiments may be implemented by instructions stored within the memory. In another embodiment, the logic may be integrated, programmed, or stored within a circuit, chip, or card.

The processor is circuitry or logic enabled to control execution of a set of instructions. The processor may be a microprocessor, digital signal processor, central processing unit, application specific integrated circuit, or other device suitable for controlling an electronic device including one or more hardware and software elements, executing software, instructions, programs and applications, converting and processing signals and information, and performing other related tasks. The processor may be a single chip or integrated with other computing or communications elements.

The memory is a hardware element, device, or recording media configured to store data for subsequent retrieval or access at a later time. The memory may be static or dynamic memory. The memory may include a hard disk, random access memory, cache, removable media drive, mass storage, or configuration suitable as storage for data, instructions, and information. In one embodiment, the memory and processor may be integrated. The memory may use any type of volatile or non-volatile storage techniques and mediums. In one embodiment, the memory may store the performance management information, data, and states that are determined and tracked as herein described. The memory may include any number of databases for tracking transmitted and received packets from one or more UNIs, nodes, maintenance entities, or other devices, elements, or modules.

As described, the UNIs 108, 110 and 111 may determine whether the terms of an SLA are being met utilizing congestion states, dynamic bandwidths, and throughput comparisons. The UNI congestion and core congestion may be utilized to analyze SLA compliance or noncompliance as well as generation of relevant alarms.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a communication system utilizing multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet virtual connections (EVCs) in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The communication system 100 is one embodiment of an E-LAN service type. The communication system 200 may include a MEN 201, and UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208.

In various embodiments, such as the multipoint configuration of FIG. 1, measuring the CIR performance may be difficult. The difficulty may result from communications or inter-connectivity between the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208. UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208 function as or are matched with one or more customer side UNI (UNI-C) and network side UNIs (UNI-N). The communication system may further include one or more network to network interfaces (NNIs), which may include external NNIs (E-NNI) and internal NNIs (I-NNI). Performance measurements and determinations of the illustrative embodiments may be performed by frame, bits, or packet counters or other devices at the port level of one or more communications devices within the communication system 100, which may also include the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208.

The communication system 100 illustrates one example of a shared bandwidth service in which the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208 may contend for bandwidth to communicate with each other. The communications service provider operating the MEN 201 may define a known bandwidth profile for each of the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208 which may include a bandwidth commitment. The bandwidth commitment may not be statically assigned to any specific UNI pair. As a result, using a single or even multiple UNI-to-UNI CIR bandwidth performance measurements may not be adequate to measure the parameters of the SLA agreed to by the communications service provider and the user.

In some cases, the communications service provider may guarantee bandwidth between legs of the service. The legs are connections between one or more UNIs. A guarantee between any two legs of the services reflects a core CIR. The SLA may provide guarantees for the core network, individual legs, and other point to point communications. In order to conform with the SLA, any of the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208 may be required to transmit (i.e tx) and/or receive (i.e. rx) a throughput CIR. In some cases traffic contentions (i.e. multiple UNIs communicating with a single UNI simultaneously) may result in frame loss because of the contention for the shared bandwidth. If a frame loss ratio is utilized as a SLA indicator, the amount of bandwidth frames that may be communicated without contention is significantly smaller than the full bandwidth profile. Certain illustrative embodiments provide a system and method for addressing contention problems to individual UNIs, across legs, or through the network.

In one example, a communications service provider may sell service to four customers as represented by the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208. The SLA with each of the customers may guarantee an amount of bandwidth to each customer UNI, such as 1 Gb/second. However, problems result when the customers are communicating with one another at the same time. A SLA measurement for monitoring is performed in order to determine compliance. Communication between customers occurs frequently and could be web traffic, streaming data, phone calls, or other forms of communications.

In one example, the SLA guarantee for the four node configuration shown in FIG. 2 may be determined by taking the CIR throughput level to the customer represented by UNI 202, 1 Gig, and dividing by three (the customer cannot be in communication with itself) to determine the guaranteed CIR is approximately 333 Mb.

Based on new interconnection standards and network configurations using frame loss as a metric to determine an SLA guaranteed CIR is problematic because of potential communications between the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208. Similarly, testing SLA guarantees via the application of throughput stress testing to confirm a CIR may cause problems by breaking operational rules, disrupting live service traffic to any number of other customers, and potentially crashing applications or portions of the MEN 201. Typically, stress testing degrades the shared bandwidth of the service itself and may not capture transient defective states that may occur. An illustrative embodiment may be utilized to track throughput performance measurements that may alleviate the need for in-service traffic testing utilizing synthetic or test packets that do not represent normal network traffic.

In one embodiment, in order to set a CIR frame loss rate level so that it may not indicate loss, the level may be set to a threshold in which no contention occurs on the UNI. For example, CIR=UNI bandwidth/(# nodes−1). In another embodiment, the CIR may be set so that it is no more than fifty percent of the service offered to the UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208.

The bandwidth utilization or CIR utilization may be measured numerically or statistically for each potential communications path in the MEN for communication data. For example, throughput counters and frame loss indicators my monitor and record relevant information and performance metrics. The traffic may be measured utilizing any number of devices or applications that track, measure, and/or record network traffic measurements. Frame loss is only expected when the SLA limits are exceeded or UNI congestion occurs. For example, the UNI 206 may have a CIR of 100 Mb. No frame loss is expected if less than 100 Mb are received, if however, UNI 202 transmits 80 MB to UNI 206, UNI 204 broadcasts 40 Mb, and UNI 208 broadcasts 30 MB, the incoming bandwidth is 150 Mb exceeding the CIR of 100 Mb. As a result, frame loss is expected and the SLA is considered to be compliant despite the frame loss.

Second, the core of the MEN 201 itself may have a core CIR. Tracking frame loss rate between all UNIs 202, 204, 206, and 208 does indicate if congestion or faults are occurring at a UNI if the core is has reached an SLA capacity. During the time frames when the service is running at full capacity frame loss rate becomes expected or is within SLA compliance or acceptable behavior. For example, the MEN 201 may have a core CIR of 800 Mb. If UNIs 202, 204, and 206 communicate 250 Mb and UNI 208 communicates at 200 Mb, the core CIR of 800 Mb is exceeded by 150 Mb and frame loss is determined to be acceptable. As a result, potential alarms are not generated and the communications service provider is determined to have not violated the SLA despite the frame loss. Tracking UNI congestion and core congestion through frame loss indicators and UNI states enable true SLA conformance measurements.

The examples given of 95% of CIR and 1% are illustrative thresholds, UNI 1 tracks TX, RX for itself (i.e., alarms on the RX of UNI 1). The measurements and calculation of throughput and frame loss may be accomplished using any suitable packet counter, network probe, analysis tool, which may be integrated with a UNI, router or other network node or be displayed in line with such a device.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram of SLA states in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The state diagram 300 of FIG. 3 may be embodied or implemented in a chip or chipset, digital logic, fully programmable gate arrays, or an application for determining the status of an SLA. In one embodiment, FIG. 3 may be applicable to Scenario 1 described above. The state diagram 300 may include states 302, 304, and 306. Service providers, operators, customers, and other groups may need the ability to isolate states of the network. The states may be utilized to minimize service interruptions, repair times, and operational resources by detecting, diagnosing, localizing, and notifying network management systems of defects in order to take corrective actions appropriate to the type of defect.

The state diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be utilized at one or more nodes in a network to determine whether the SLA is being met and record live traffic throughput to capture applicable thresholds as frame loss begins to occur. In one embodiment, the receiving portion of the UNI or node may perform all determinations of SLA compliance. In another embodiment, the applicable states may be performed by a measurement information base (MIB). States 302, 304, and 306 may indicate an alarm state, suppress alarms or take one or more associated actions. The states may be utilized to dynamically determine usage and oversubscription information and profiles for traffic engineering and network management and design. The states may also be utilized to record and store network or UNI characteristics and performance information at the moment(s) the alarm state is triggered.

In state 302 and state 306, the SLA is in compliance. In state 304, the SLA is in non-compliance. In state 302, no frame loss occurs. The SLA may be considered to be compliant.

In state 304, frame loss occurs in excess of the frame loss permitted under the SLA and the UNI CIR is not exceeded. As a result, the SLA is considered to be non-compliant. The SLA is non-compliant because the CIR is not being exceeded by the customer, but yet there is still frame loss in excess of the frame loss permitted under the SLA that does not fall within the terms of the SLA. As a result, any number of alarms may be activated or asserted indicating frame loss for troubleshooting, diagnose, and other corrective actions.

In state 306, frame loss occurs in excess of the frame loss permitted under the SLA and at the same time, the UNI CIR is exceeded. State 306 is acceptable because the user has exceeded the bandwidth guaranteed to the user at the transmit or receive end of the customer port and as a result frame loss and non-compliance with the SLA is acceptable. During state 306, any number of alarms that may be activated due to frame loss may be ended or turned off because the UNI CIR is exceeded. The determinations of the alarm state utilizing states 302, 304, and 306 may be performed locally by a device or performance information may be communicated to a separate network device for determination and alarm state management and control.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of SLA states in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The state diagram of FIG. 4 may be implemented or function with other state diagrams, such as FIG. 3. The state diagram 400 may include states 402, 404, 406, and 408. In one embodiment, FIG. 4 may be applicable to Scenario 2 described above. In some cases, service providers do not provide broad guarantees for bandwidth. For example, the communications service provider may limit the SLA based on a leg CIR and a core CIR through the network. As previously described, in the state 402 no frame loss occurs in excess of the frame loss permitted under the SLA and the SLA is considered in compliance.

In state 404, frame loss occurs when the UNI CIR is not exceeded and/or when the core CIR is not exceeded. As a result, the SLA is considered noncompliant in state 404. Any number of alarms or indicators may be set or initiated in response to entering state 404.

In state 408, frame loss occurs in excess of the frame loss permitted under the SLA when the core CIR is exceeded, the SLA is determined to still be in compliance. In state 406, if frame loss occurs when the UNI CIR is exceeded, the SLA is determined to still be in compliance. During states 406 and 408, alarms, such as those activated for state 404, may be deactivated, cancelled, or disengaged because of the noncompliance with the SLA.

In one embodiment, the communications service provider may track the packets transmitted and received over the core network (all UNIs bundled together) between each UNI pair, and to each and from each UNI. Although not illustrated herein, the embodiments described in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be expanded to further consider whether or not the CIR of a remote node or UNI has been exceeded. If the CIR for such remote UNI has been exceeded. If the CIR for such remote UNI have been exceeded, network performance measurements indicating a performance issue such as excessive frame loss that include the measurement of traffic to or from the remote UNI may also be permitted despite violating a particular service level because of the exceeded CIR.

For SLA compliance, a throughput SLA does no provide accurate information on SLA compliance. As a result, frame loss is still required as an important metric to determine compliance with the SLA requirements. Determining SLA compliance may be performed as described by the various illustrative embodiments.

Certain illustrative embodiments may allow a communications service provider or customer to measure metrics used to determine whether obligations are being met under an SLA. The proposed systems and methods do not require stress testing the network in order to determine SLA compliance. Additionally, certain illustrative embodiments may be utilized by network engineers to determine potential traffic and demonstrate compliance with SLAs when customers are operating within their CIRs. Additionally, communications service providers may use Certain illustrative embodiments to ensure that they do not oversell bandwidth, legs, or the core user to provide their service.

Bandwidth

Throughput performance management rates are frequently discussed in terms of Ethernet frame octets received (EFOR) and Ethernet frame octets transmitted (EFOT). The throughput rate is the amount of EFOR and EFOT measured over a short time period. In one embodiment, the throughput rate may be measured with respect to the bits passing through a maintenance entity, network node, or Access Transport Resource Control Functional (A-TRCF) entity for the CIR, extended information rate (EIR), or both together as a single measure of throughput. Performance measurements, such as frame loss, may be calculated based on all network traffic or only based on conforming traffic, such as traffic that is within a customer CIR.

Ethernet has multiple standard frame sizes whereas asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) has one frame size. In one example, Ethernet frames may vary in size from 64 to 1,518 octets. This however, does not include 96,200 jumbo frames supported by Gig-E. Live Ethernet traffic includes mixed types of packet sizes with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packets generally being around 128 bytes, and Internet traffic being composed of both 64 byte and 1,518 byte packets. Given that the service blend of packets of differing size is dynamic and that differences may exceed two orders of magnitude, such frame loss as a performance indicator is inaccurate. The deviation in packet size makes using frames per second or frame rate measurements an invalid throughput indicator or performance measurement. Clock skew in Ethernet chips may also cause variations as high as 1% in the amount of frames that may be transmitted due to variations in frame gaps. Although not illustrated herein, the embodiments described in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be expanded to further consider whether or not the CIR of a remote node or UNI transmitting to the illustrated UNI has been exceeded. If the CIR for such remote UNI have been exceeded, network performance measurements indicating a performance issue such as excessive frame loss that include the measurement of traffic to or from the remote UNI may also be permitted despite violating a particular service level because of the exceeded CIR.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of nodes in a network in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 5 shows multiple nodes that may be included in a network. In one embodiment, the network may include node A 502, node B 504, node C 506, node D 508, node E 512, and node F 510. As previously described, the nodes may represent any number of UNIs, devices, components, equipment, ports, or constructs.

The nodes may both transmit and receive data to any of the other nodes as shown. As previously described, a network performance device or process may not be able to determine compliance with a SLA when multiple nodes communicate with a single node simultaneously. For example, node B 504, node C 506, and node D 508 transmit data to node E 512 at the same time utilizing a large amount of bandwidth that exceeds the terms of the SLA. Certain illustrative embodiments provide a system and method for compensating for the situations of FIGS. 5 and 7 without generating alarms, recording SLA violations or entering an error state.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a flowchart of a process for determining whether losses within a network comply with an SLA in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The process of FIG. 6 may be implemented by a UNI or other node in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Although specifically described for one node in an illustrative embodiment, the process of FIG. 6 may be performed for multiple UNIs.

The process may begin with a UNI or other device summing the bits received by node A from each of nodes B through F for a specified time interval (step 602). The nodes may represent UNIs communicating with the UNI being monitored, such as node A thereby establishing UNI pair Bt-Ar, Ct-Ar, Dt-Ar, Et-Ar, and Ft-Ar. The time interval may be any measure specified by the network administrator. In one embodiment, the time interval may be an amount less than 1 second. The measurement in step 602 measures the total amount of bits received by a node from all nodes within the network for such time interval. In one embodiment, the measurement or calculation of step 602 may be initiated in response to a determination that there is loss within the network or at the UNI being monitored.

Next, the UNI determines whether the sum of the summed bits is greater than a bandwidth profile for node A (step 604). The bandwidth profile may be specified by the SLA. For example, the bandwidth profile for node A may be included in a customer agreement with a communications service provider.

If the UNI determines that the sum of the summed bits is greater than a bandwidth profile or CIR for node A, the UNI may indicate or store an indication that the frame loss triggers a violation of the SLA (step 606). In one embodiment, the frame loss may trigger an obligation of the communications service provider. For example, the communications service provider may be required to provide a customer associated with the UNI a discount, credits, or remedy for the loss.

If the UNI determines that the sum is greater than a bandwidth profile or CIT for node A, the UNI may indicate that the frame loss is permitted and does not trigger a violation of the service-level agreement because the bandwidth profile has been exceeded (step 608). Such indication may occur because multiple nodes are communicating with the UNI simultaneously in a manner that is not within a CIR or that is otherwise not supported by the SLA.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a network ring in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 7 shows multiple nodes that may communicate through a ring 100 in a network. In one embodiment, the ring 100 may communicate with node A 702, node B 704, node C 706, node D 708, node E 712, and node F 710. As previously described, the nodes may represent any number of UNIs, devices, components, equipment, ports, or constructs. The ring 100 is the core of a network. The ring 100 is one embodiment of any number of topologies that may be utilized in a communications environment as all or a portion of a network. The ring 100 may include any number of interconnected devices, equipment, and systems. The nodes may communicate with the other nodes through the ring 100, as shown. As previously described, the ring 100 may not be able to determine compliance with a SLA for guaranteed core performance when multiple nodes communicate through the ring 100 at or near maximum capacity simultaneously. For example, if node B 704, node C 706, node D 708, and node E 712 transmit and receive data at their maximum bandwidth simultaneously, the terms of the core SLA may be exceeded. Certain illustrative embodiments provide a system and method for monitoring such situations without entering an error state.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial representation of a flowchart of a process for determining whether losses within a network comply with an SLA for core throughput in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. The process of FIG. 8 may be implemented by a UNI, application engine within a server, or other element of a communications management system. Although specifically described for one node, in an illustrative embodiment, the process of FIG. 8 may be performed for multiple nodes or UNIs simultaneously.

The process may begin by summing the bits received by UNI A from each node Bt, Ct, Dt, Et, and Ft comprising five nod pairs through a ring over a particular time interval (step 802). The pairs may represent all UNIs communicating directly with the UNI being monitored, such as UNI A. The time interval may be any measure specified by the network administrator. In one embodiment, the time interval may be an amount less than 5 seconds. The measurement in step 802 measures the total amount of bits received by UNI A from nodes within the network for the time period. In one embodiment, the measurement or calculation of step 802 may be initiated in response to a determination that there is frame or packet loss within the network or at the UNI being monitored, network congestion, or other network issues.

Next, the UNI determines whether the sum is greater than a bandwidth profile for the ring (step 804). The bandwidth or throughput profile may be specified by the SLA. For example, UNI A may represent a UNI of a customer that has an agreement with a communications service provider for core bandwidth through a ring or core portion of the network.

If the UNI determines that the sum is not greater than a bandwidth profile for the ring, the UNI records that any loss is accounted for based on the SLA. (step 806). In one embodiment, the loss may be required to be accounted for by the communications service provider. For example, the communications service provider may be required to provide a customer associated with the UNI a discount, credits, or retribution for the loss.

If the UNI determines the sum is greater than a bandwidth profile for the ring, the UNI records that the loss is normal and not recorded against the SLA because the bandwidth profile for the network core is exceeded (step 808). The recordation of step 808 indicates that the loss is occurring because multiple UNIs are communicating through the ring simultaneously in a manner that is unsustainable and not supported by the SLA. For example, the core bandwidth of the ring may be one gigabyte and may be exceeded by four UNIs simultaneously transmitting (or attempting to transmit) at 500 Mb.

Another matter complicating the issue of determining if a frame loss occurrence is normally expected is the use of a bit based rate limiter or shaper at one end of a path and a physical UNI port at the opposite end. Rate limiters enforce bandwidth profiles based upon bit rates and not frame sizes. UNI ports, however, have a frame size dependant bandwidth profile that limits the amount of “effective” bit throughput that may be transmitted through the port at any given time. This relationship is caused due to the “cell tax” or inter-frame-gap (IFG) and inter-frame-overhead, and other frame components, such as the start frame delimiter (SFD), that are not counted by bit based rate shapers. The end result of the UNI bandwidth profile is that for every frame per second transmitted through a UNI the “cell tax” overhead of the IFG, and other non-bits are subtracted from the UNI line rate. This relationship results in small frames having less “effective” throughput or bit based throughput than large frames. However, rate shapers and rate limiters do not change their bandwidth profile with frame size as do UNI ports. This causes a mismatch in the bit based rate limiter to frames size dependant throughput profile of a port. When a rate limiter uses a 76.2% or higher bandwidth profile of the UNI port line rate frame loss may occur because of the frame size dependency at the UNI port. To account for frame size, a frame per second dynamic bandwidth profile tool may be required to decipher if the bandwidth loss was caused by the bandwidth profile mismatch of a rate limiter to the UNI, which is frame size dependant.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of a network performance system in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In one embodiment, the network performance system 900 of FIG. 9 may be encompassed in a device, such as a UNI. A network performance system 900 may include or perform basic measurements, derived calculations, and threshold crossings. The elements may be circuits, logic, or hardware or may include a program, instructions, or stored elements. FIG. 9 may further include one or more interfaces communicating with a number of rate limiters or rate shapers. FIG. 9 may also be utilized to perform the other methods and processes herein described. In one embodiment, the network performance system 900 may include alarms 902, performance logic 904, SLA module 906, dynamic bandwidth profile 908, and logic 910 and 912.

The alarms 902 represent service or system alerts that may be generated in response to the rules of SLA module 906 being violated based on the dynamic bandwidth profile 904 as determined by the performance logic 904. The performance logic 904 is the circuits, instructions, and other intelligent components operable to determine whether the service level agreement has been violated utilizing a static bandwidth profile or the dynamic bandwidth profile 908. The SLA module 906 may utilize rules based on any number of states, steps, or processes as previously described in FIGS. 3-8.

The dynamic bandwidth threshold 908 may act to regulate a policing function by providing feedback that may be utilized to reduce throughput limits based on frames per second, or it may simply be used to gauge if a rate limiter failed to enforce a small frame bandwidth profile which was discarded by a UNI port. The dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may be applicable to ports or devices.

The dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may utilize logic 910 or logic 912. In one embodiment, the dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may establish the maximum effective transmission rate based upon the UNI port's maximum frames per second at the largest maximum transmission unit (MTU) size, and the corresponding effective throughput rate for that MTU size and frame rate. In a second embodiment, the dynamic bandwidth profile may be based upon the UNI line rate, and the frames per second measure, with the corresponding frame overhead or “non-bit” counted portions of each frame. For example, the dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may be utilized directly with the network bit based throughput counters to determine if the traffic present conforms to the port's frame based throughput instead of a static bandwidth profile in response to the dynamic bandwidth profile 908 which exists due to protocol overhead for small frames between 76.2% and 100% of the port line rate speed. The relevant speeds and percentages may be determined based on industry standard inter-frame-gap and “non-bit” overhead, such as SFD.

An example may be utilized to explain logic 910. In an illustrative embodiment, a single circuit with a Gig-E may be located at one end, and a 100 Mb Fast Ethernet port may be located at the second end. The service may be a 100 Mb service with a “rate-limiter” at the Gig-E end. In effect, the rate limiter will pass 100 Mbs of effective throughput. However, with small packets such as 64 byte frames only 76.2 Mbs of payload may fit inside of the 100 Mb line rate port due to overhead. However, 99.8 Mbs of 1581 byte frames will fit into the port due to a lower ratio of overhead to payload. The bandwidth profile of the rate limiter is not frame size dependant, and the bandwidth profile of the Fast Ethernet port is frame size dependent.

The rate limiter is typically a bit based effective throughput bandwidth profile may not be constrained by a line rate, and as a result may allow too many small frames through the service. As a result, the small frames may be dropped at the far end when the frames attempt to enter the UNI or 100 Mb Fast Ethernet port.

A dynamic frames per second “threshold” may be required to identify if the line rate of the frames being transmitted exceeded the bandwidth profile of the UNI port. Given that the frame bit counters commonly used by packet systems do not typically use a line rate, logic, an equation, algorithm, or other instructions may convert the instantaneous bandwidth (during a short time period) to a line rate that may be used to determine if the effective throughput may be communicated through the port or is less than the port speed.

The logic 912 may be utilized to convert the effective bandwidth to a line rate. If the effective bandwidth rate exceeds the UNI port line rate, the frame loss is not counted because those frames exceeded the UNI port rate (line rate, e.g., 100 Mbs). Normally, the effective throughput measurement does not detect such conditions.

The logic 912 may utilize a “static UNI line rate threshold” to determine if the throughput allowed by the rate limiter was or was not service conforming (able to be communicated through the UNI port). The logic 912 may utilize the instantaneous throughput determined by the bit counters and add the overhead of the IFG to the effective throughput to adjust to a line rate standard. That value is then compared to the line rate. If the value is above the port's line rate, the traffic does not conform to the service, if it was below the line rate (100 Mb), then the traffic did conform and the loss should not have occurred.

The following provides additional details and embodiments for the logic 910 and/or 912. In one embodiment, the dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may determine throughput rate of a port. The throughput rate may determined to be less than or equal to a determination of parameters. In one embodiment, the parameters may include effect throughput rate, port speed, the frames per second, and the inter frame overhead.

Throughput is dependent on frame size and may change as the frame size changes dynamically. As a result, packet service level capacities are often stated in terms of the throughput rate of the MTU size or frame size. For example, 90 Mbs with 1518 byte frames. However, the use of smaller frames yields less throughput capacity. In one ongoing example, 64 bytes have a throughput capacity of 76.2 Megs for a 100 Megabyte port. In effect, every time a frame is added for a given time period, the size of the overhead and non-payload bits relative to the overall frame size also increases.

Therefore, the maximum MTU throughput rate minus the added incremental frames per second yields the instantaneous dynamic effective throughput capacity. Such logic may be expressed by subtracting the current frame per second interval from the fastest rate that frames may be sent per second for the maximum MTU size and then subtracted from the maximum MTU size effective throughput. The result is a threshold that indicates the amount of payload or effective bits that may pass through the service based on the loss of throughput due to the added frames per second overhead.

For example, the dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may be utilized to determine that the actual effective frame per second dependant bandwidth profile 910 is 76.2% of service payload utilizing 64 byte packets and 99.8% of service payload with 1518 byte packets. As a result, the systems, devices, user, or equipment may account for the potential 24% of overhead by adjusting line rates and throughput levels. The dynamic bandwidth profile 908 may ensure that frame loss does not occur between a UNI-N and a UNI-C.

The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodiments for implementing the invention and is not intended to be limiting in scope. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of the invention disclosed with greater particularity. 

1. A method for measuring compliance with a service level agreement (SLA) for communications, the method comprising: setting a threshold for a core committed information rate (CIR) and a user network interface (UNI) CIR operable to avoid contention; measuring frame loss on a core of a network and legs of the network; and determining that the SLA is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a UNI CIR has not been exceeded or the core CIR has not been exceeded.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UNI CIR equals a UNI bandwidth divided by a number of UNIs in communication with one another minus one.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network is a network configured for Metro Ethernet communications.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame loss is acceptable and the SLA is considered to be compliant in response to determining that frame loss occurs and the UNI CIR or the core CIR are exceeded.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the UNI CIR is not exceeded when throughput has not reached a maximum limit on either end of a UNI pair.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting, measuring, and determining is performed by a UNI.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting, measuring, and determining is performed by customer premise equipment.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the UNIs corresponds to a CIR for a plurality of customers.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of customers has a SLA.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: measuring the traffic utilization and CIR utilization for the plurality of customers; and determining the compliance state of the SLA for the plurality of customers.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: activating an alarm state in response to determining the SLA is noncompliant.
 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: recording network information in response to the alarm state being activated.
 13. A system for measuring compliance with a SLA, the system comprising: a UNI operable to communicate with a plurality of UNIs; a network operable to communicate packets between the UNI and the plurality of UNIs; and a communications device in communication with the UNI operable to measure frame loss on a core of the network and legs of the network, the communications device being further operable to determine that the SLA is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a UNI CIR has not been exceeded or a core CIR has not been exceeded.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communications device is the UNI, and wherein the UNI CIR is not exceeded when throughput has not reached a maximum threshold on either end of a UNI pair.
 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the network provides E-LAN services, wherein each of the UNIs corresponds to a CIR for a plurality of customers, and wherein each of the plurality of customers has an SLA.
 16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the frame loss is acceptable and the SLA is considered to be compliant in response to determining that frame loss occurs and the UNI CIR or the core CIR are exceeded, and wherein the UNI and the plurality of UNIs are associated with a CIR.
 17. A UNI operable to determine compliance with an SLA comprising: a processor for executing a set of instructions; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory operable to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to: set a threshold for a core committed information rate (CIR) and a user network interface (UNI) CIR operable to avoid contention; measure frame loss on a core of a network and legs of the network; and determine that the SLA is noncompliant in response to determining there is frame loss and a UNI CIR has not been exceeded or the core CIR has not been exceeded.
 18. The UNI according to claim 16, wherein the frame loss is acceptable and the SLA is considered to be compliant in response to determining that frame loss occurs and the UNI CIR or the core CIR are exceeded.
 19. The UNI according to claim 16, wherein the UNI CIR equals a UNI bandwidth divided by a number of UNIs in communication with one another minus one.
 20. The UNI according to claim 16, wherein the SLA indicates bandwidth guarantees for the core and the legs of the network, and wherein one or more users is alerted of a noncompliance with the SLA. 